Being chased for Unpaid Utility bill that I never received

Dnorris

Hi people,

I've just received a phone call today saying that I have a utility bill from June 2005 that is unpaid (£274!). Our tenancy had ceased by that point and we left the property having cancelled all of our bills on departure.

We have never received a bill relating to this or any other correspondance. Does anyone know if I have any legal defence to this matter or whether I'm just getting shafted for their oversight at the time of the cessation of the lease?

Any help people can offer will be greatly appreciated.

David

DVardysShadow

Get them to send a copy of the bill. This goes nowhere if they can't produce that. Next look at your leaving readings and the last bill you had for the property. You did keep them didn't you????

Dnorris

I'm not so sure, usually clear out items over 3 years old but its possible I do still have them!

DVardysShadow

Dnorris wrote: »

I'm not so sure, usually clear out items over 3 years old but its possible I do still have them!

You can be chased for a debt for 6 years, so you should extend your filing!!!

Cardew

Dnorris wrote: »

We have never received a bill relating to this or any other correspondance. Does anyone know if I have any legal defence to this matter or whether I'm just getting shafted for their oversight at the time of the cessation of the lease?

You are assuming a bill wasn't produced at the cessation of your lease. If you were receiving bills previously it is unlikely they stopped producing bills. If they did not produce a bill, they are hardly likely to do so 4 years later.

Assuming that you, or the letting agent, gave them your final meter readings, the probability is that a bill was produced but was sent to your old address or the letting agent instead of your new address - I assume you wrote to them with your new address?

The bottom line is that they can claim for a debt up to 6 years and now they have made that claim, your only defence is that the bill is incorrect.